John Vitacco and Matt McEllen are doing more than simply coaching young athletes in wrestling — they are helping kids across the Pascack Valley learn to take on life’s challenges head-on with confidence.
The Pascack Valley and Pascack Hills Kids Wrestling programs have been cornerstones of the community for decades. As part of a larger league with 54 teams across Bergen and Passaic counties, these local teams offer much more than just physical training.
Since taking over in 2023 and 2024 respectively, McEllen and Vitacco—both current wrestling parents—have continued to nurture the energy and vision within their programs. Their personal connection to the program has helped guide its growth, even since setbacks like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, the Pascack Valley and Pascack Hills’ teams are thriving, welcoming anyone who is interested. Each team has seen a rise in not only male but female participants, coinciding with the rise of women’s wrestling in America.
For both Vitacco and McEllen, the program they want to encourage children to participate in is the combined Twin County Junior Wrestling League. This travel team allows children from both teams to compete and work together, preparing for matches and learning new moves.
While Vitacco and McEllen do enjoy the playful rivalry that is famous across the area between the school districts, they largely view their combined team as a great way to foster cooperation among the next generation.
Whether through local matches or tournament preparation, the focus across all three programs is on more than just winning. Vitacco and McEllen use wrestling as a tool to help children develop discipline, resilience, and self-belief.
“I tell the kids that preparing to be great at this sport is a very long game and the work isn’t always immediately rewarding” McEllen explained, “Every workout/training session is the equivalent to putting a drop of water in a bucket. It may not seem like much after a week, but over time, those drops accumulate until you get a full bucket. That is what is so rewarding about this program: the kids, every year, are building themselves up.”
Inspiring that confidence is easy to do within Vitacco’s and McEllen’s programs, as so many former alumni, parents, and fellow coaches are there to help these programs succeed. Whether they are simply competing at the recreation level or going to a larger competition, the community surrounding these programs is there to cheer the kids on.
"You can see and feel the strong sense of community," Vitacco said, "which is amazing to be a part of."
For those kids, that sense of community and confidence helps them grow and learn lessons no other sport can teach. Vitacco and McEllen get to watch with pride as their wrestlers take on every competition with strength and smiles each year.
“My biggest goal,” Vitacco mentioned, “is to see these kids come back and grow. In New Jersey, almost every town has a wrestling team. It is a competitive environment, but it is always great to see kids continue to be involved and learn what they are capable of.”
That continued support gives Pascack Valley’s young wrestlers something to strive for—helping them grow stronger with every match, every takedown, and every moment on the mat.
Registration for both the Pascack Valley and Pascack Hills teams begins September 1st. For more information on PV's programs, email John Vitacco at pascackvalleywrestling@gmail.com or visit www.pascackvalleywrestling.com. For more information on PH's programs, visit cowboyswrestling.org.